International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Eroding University Autonomy and Emerging Ethical Risks: Lessons From a Corruption Case Involving the University of Tokyo and the Japan Cosmetic Association

Document Type : Letter to Editor

Authors
Akihiko Ozaki 1, 2, 3
Yudai Kaneda 1
Masahiro Kami 3
1 Breast and Thyroid Center, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima, Japan
2 Clinical Training Center, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima, Japan
3 Medical Governance Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
10.34172/ijhpm.9561
Keywords
Professional Misconduct
Ethics, Medical
Physicians/Ethics
Japan

Dear Editor,

 

Universities must sustain intellectual and ethical independence, which depends in part on financial autonomy. Harvard University illustrates this model. As of 2025, its endowment totaled US $56.9 billion, generating annual distributions of US $2.5 billion within a total operating budget of US $6.8 billion.1 ... (Read more...)

  1. ‎Harvard University. Financial Overview. 2025. ‎ https://finance.harvard.edu/financial-overview. Accessed February 11, 2026.
  2. ‎The University of Tokyo. Appendix: Budget, Revenue and Expenditure Plan, and ‎Financial Plan [in Japanese]. https://www.u-‎ac.jp/content/400157741.pdf. Accessed February 11, 2026.
  3. ‎Ozaki A, Murayama A, Harada K, et al. How do institutional conflicts of interest ‎between pharmaceutical companies and the healthcare sector become corrupt? A ‎case study of scholarship donations between department of Clinical Anesthesiology, ‎Mie University, and Ono Pharmaceutical in Japan. Front Public Health. ‎‎2021;9:762637.‎ doi:3389/fpubh.2021.762637
  4. Ozaki A, Harada K, Murayama A, et al. Japan's valsartan clinical trials shambles; time for fundamental changes. Int J Health Plann Manage. 2023;38(3):557-568. doi:1002/hpm.3618
  5. ‎Ozaki A. Bribery in japan’s medical device sector: A historical and contemporary ‎ In: Business Ethics in the Healthcare Industry. Springer Nature ‎Switzerland; 2025:227-251.‎
  6. ‎University of Tokyo Hospital doctor arrested for allegedly taking ‎ The Japan Times. 2025. ‎https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/20/japan/crime-legal/university-of-‎tokyo-doctor-bribery-arrest/‎. Accessed February 11, 2026.
  7. Braznell S, Laurence L, Fitzpatrick I, Gilmore AB. "Keep it a secret": Leaked Documents Suggest Philip Morris International, and Its Japanese Affiliate, Continue to Exploit Science for Profit. Nicotine Tob Res. 2025;27(5):794-804. doi:1093/ntr/ntae101
  8. ‎Presidential Endowed Chair for MbSC2030, the University of Tokyo. MbSC2030 website. ‎‎ https://mbscenter.u-tokyo.ac.jp/english. Accessed February 11, 2026.
  9. ‎University of Tokyo President Fujii Apologizes Following Arrest of ‎Serving Professor; Hospital Director Tanaka Resigns Over Failure to Prevent ‎Misconduct [in Japanese]. m3.com website. 2026. Accessed February 11, 2026. ‎https://www.m3.com/news/iryoishin/1318108. ‎
  10. ‎Japan RCT. Follow-up Report: What Was the Japan Cosmetic Association’s Aim in ‎Conducting Unauthorized CBD Testing? A Private Investigator as Advisor, Who Is ‎Representative Koichi Hikichi? / Resumption of Orange CBD Imports. 2020. ‎https://x.gd/kpVlY. Accessed February 11, 2026. ‎
International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Volume 15, Issue 1
2026
Pages 1-3

  • Received Date 23 October 2025
  • Revised Date 11 February 2026
  • Accepted Date 14 March 2026
  • First Published Date 14 March 2026
  • Published Date 01 December 2026